తాను చేసిన పాపం తనువుతో, తల్లి చేసిన పాపం ధరణితో.

tanu chesina papam tanuvuto, talli chesina papam dharanito.

Translation

The sin which a man commits goes with his body, the sin which his mother commits goes with the earth. This is interpreted to mean that if a man commits the sin of adultery, his crime may be expiated by a punishment equal to loss of life, but if a woman is guilty of the same offence, it clings to her descendants as long as the world endures.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the depth of maternal influence and consequences. It suggests that while an individual's misdeeds might only affect their own physical being or lifespan, a mother's actions have far-reaching, generational effects that impact the lineage or the land itself. It is used to emphasize the heavy responsibility of a mother's conduct.

Related Phrases

Anger is a partner to sin

This proverb suggests that anger is the root cause or a close companion of sinful actions. It implies that when a person is angry, they lose their sense of judgment and are more likely to commit wrongdoings or harmful acts.

A committed sin goes away if it is told.

This expression suggests that confessing one's mistakes or sins relieves the burden of guilt and leads to forgiveness. It is used to encourage honesty and transparency after making a mistake, implying that keeping a secret only worsens the moral weight of the action.

Sin is removed by confession. Confession of a fault makes half amends. A sin confessed is half forgiven. (Italian.)

This proverb emphasizes the importance of confession and accountability. It suggests that acknowledging one's mistakes or wrongdoings openly helps in reducing the burden of guilt and paves the way for forgiveness or self-correction. It is used to encourage people to be honest about their faults rather than hiding them.

You take the sin of killing the cat, I'll take the sin of eating your molasses. Said by a stingy Kômati to a Brahman priest to whom he had presented tha cheapest possible offering that would expiate the sin he had committed by killing a cat, viz., a little image of a cat made of molasses, which he afterwards was greedy enough to take back again and swallow.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone hypocritically tries to equate a major transgression with a minor or harmless act. It highlights a person's clever but unfair way of shifting blame or normalizing their own small gains while others face the consequences of serious mistakes. It is often used to mock someone who tries to share 'blame' in a way that actually benefits them.

A sin committed is cleared if confessed.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of confession and honesty. It suggests that the burden of a mistake or wrongdoing is relieved once it is admitted openly, similar to the English expression 'A fault confessed is half redressed'.

The sin committed by oneself stays with the body, the sin committed by the mother stays with the earth.

This proverb highlights the gravity and consequences of actions. It suggests that while an individual's personal mistakes or sins affect their own physical being or life journey, a mother's actions have a much broader, foundational impact on the lineage or the environment. It is often used to emphasize accountability and the lasting legacy of one's deeds.

There is no sin in times of danger/adversity.

This proverb suggests that in life-threatening or extreme crisis situations, standard moral rules or rigid religious restrictions may be overlooked for survival. It is similar to the concept of 'Necessity knows no law.' It is used to justify an unconventional action taken during an emergency that would otherwise be considered wrong.

There is no one to blame the mother-in-law.

This proverb is used to highlight double standards or hypocrisy in power dynamics. It suggests that when a person in authority (like a mother-in-law) makes a mistake, it is ignored or excused, but when a subordinate (like a daughter-in-law) does the same, it is heavily criticized.

If you offer incense, sin will be removed.

This expression is used to highlight hypocrisy or the futility of performing outward religious rituals while harboring bad intentions or having committed serious wrongs. It suggests that a small ritual cannot wash away the consequences of one's misdeeds.

Making mustard seed into a ball. An impossible combination.

This expression is used to describe an impossible or extremely difficult task. Mustard seeds are small, round, and slippery; trying to pack them together into a solid ball without a binding agent is futile. It signifies attempts to unify people or things that naturally tend to disperse or remain individualistic.